Minutes before deadline, Netanyahu says he assembled government

The announcement came despite the fact that not all coalition deals were indeed finalized.

Mazal Mualem
Mazal Mualem
Dec 22, 2022
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (seated 2nd L) sits in front of Israel's veteran ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and next to outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid (seated 3rd L), as he poses with the heads of all parties of the 25th Knesset at the Marc Chagall hall in the Knesset building, after Israel swore in a new parliament, Jerusalem, Nov. 15, 2022.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (seated 2nd L) sits in front of Israel's veteran ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and next to outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid (seated 3rd L), as he poses with the heads of all parties of the 25th Knesset at the Marc Chagall hall in the Knesset building, after Israel swore in a new parliament, Jerusalem, Nov. 15, 2022. — Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu called President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, shortly before midnight, announcing that he had successfully formed a government. The phone call came 12 minutes exactly before Netanyahu’s deadline for assembling a coalition majority expired.

In a video of his phone call with Herzog, posted on social media, Netanyahu said, “I have managed to set up a government that will take care of all the citizens of Israel. And I of course intend to establish it as quickly as possible.”

 

What’s the rush?

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